Apparatus for use in the washing of compressor blades of gas turbine engines



Aug. 15. 1967 A. T. JUNIPER 3,335,915

APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE WASHING OF COMPRESSOR BLADES OF GAS TURBINE ENGINES Filed Feb. 19, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fig. 2

INVENTOR: 8y AZBL'RT 7/10/1445 Jl/N/Pf/fiDfCf/UIO HZE/VA GRACE JUN/Pi A, :xaurmx BY fizfl A TTC [2 N EYS 1967 A. T. JUNIPER 3,335,916

APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE WASHING OF COMPRESSOR BLADES OF GAS TURBINE ENGINES Flled Feb. 19, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VENTOR: AZBl-R'T THOMAS JU/V/PR DZCE/ISED HEM/4 a/mcz Jaw/Pix; [XzFCl/fR/X BY /fii:

ATTORNEYS United States Patent M 3,335,916 APPARATUS FOR USE IN THE WASHING OF COMPRESSOR BLADES OF GAS TURBINE ENGINES Albert Thomas Juniper, deceased, late of Caldy, England, by Helena Grace Juniper, executrix, Caldy, England, assignor to A. T. Juniper Limited, Liverpool, England, a British company Filed Feb. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 434,142 Claims priority, application Great Britain, Feb. 29, 1964, 8,575/ 64 2 Claims. (Cl. 222176) This invention relates to apparatus for use more particularly in the washing and cleansing of compressor blades as employed in gas turbine engines. Due to the large volumes of air handled by such compressors the blades thereof are liable to become, and frequently are, fouled or/and corroded by contaminants carried by the air, and it is therefore necessaryfor such compressor blades to be periodically cleansed in order to prevent undue build-up thereon with consequent loss of efficiency and danger of damage to the engine. Such cleansing operations normally are possible only by dismantling the compressor, a lengthy and costly procedure and one which renders an engine inoperative for relatively long periods.

The present invention has for its object therefor to provide a readily portable device or appliance which will enable washing liquid to be supplied under pressure for use in cleansing the compressor blades of a gas turbine engine while said blades are in situ. A further object is to provide such apparatus which embodies means for pressurizing the supply of washing liquid or, alternatively, which may be pressurized by compressed air supplied from the engine itself.

Broadly, according to the invention, apparatus for the purpose specified comprises a main framework having ground wheels whereon it may be moved from place to place; a first container mounted in said frame for holding a supply of washing liquid; a second container for holding pressure air and also for use as a settling tank or trap for moisture, said two tanks being interconnected so as to equalize the air pressure therein; pump means for pressurizing said tanks; a valve for connecting said pump means with said second container; a flexible, valve controlled, liquid delivery pipe connected to said first container via a dip tube extending into same; liquid filter means interposed in said delivery pipe; said liquid container having an air inlet and said air container an air outlet and said inlet and outlet each having a flexible pipeline attached thereto for connecting same with supply and return points of an engine compressor; and means for sealing off said flexible pipe-lines when said pump means is in operation.

The liquid delivery pipe-line is arranged so as to be connectable with a spray ring or the like (which may be of known construction) whereby the blades of a compressor may be subjected to the action of pressurized cleansing fluid from the apparatus. The invention is further described with the aid of the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example only, one mode of embodiment thereof.

In said drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view thereof;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation as viewed from the right hand side of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is an end elevation as viewed from the left hand side of FIG. 1.

In the several views parts of the flexible pipe lines have been omitted, or shown in broken lines, to afford a clearer understanding of the apparatus.

3,335,916 Patented Aug. 15, I967 Referring now to said drawings, the apparatus comprises two cylindrical containers 10, 11 each having a capacity of about five gallons and which are mounted in tandem on a tubular metal frame 12 provided with a pair of ground wheels 13. Handles 14 are provided whereby said frame may be manhandled readily to any required situation. The container 10 has a closable filler aperture 15 in its roof 16 whereby a supply of washing liquid suited to the conditions to be encountered may be filled into said container. Also provided in said roof 16 is a liquid delivery outlet 17 whereto is connected a dip-tube 18 (FIG. 1) which extends downwardly within the container to within a short distance of its bottom, and said outlet 17 is connected by a pipe-line 19 to the inlet side of a liquid filter 20 via a hand operable control valve 20A. The outlet of said filter 20 has connected thereto a length of flexible hose 21 for delivering washing liquid from the container for use in washing the blades of a compressor. An adjustable relief valve 22 and a calibrated ullage rod 23 also are provided.

The second container 11 has fitted in its roof 24 an air inlet valve 25 (associated with the relief valve 22) adapted for detachable connection in conventional or other fashion with the union 26 (FIG. 2) of a double acting hand pump 27 fixedly mounted on the main frame 12 between the two containers 10, 11. Also fitted in the roof 24 of said container 11 is a pressure gauge 28, a take-off valve 29 for at times permitting the tapping or bleeding of pressure air from said container, and an air outlet 30 which is connected to the input side 31 of an air filter 32 mounted on said main frame 12.

It is arranged for both containers 10, 11 to be pressurized simultaneously, the pressure being equalized by two transfer pipes 33, 34 connecting the upper parts of said containers. Also, the bases or bottoms of said containers are interconnected by two transfer pipes 35, 36 having shut-off valves 37, 38 incorporated therein. Normally these valves 37, 38 are closed in use but may be opened if it is desired to use both tanks as liquid receptacles. Said containers 10, 11 also are provided with drain plugs respectively designated 39, 40.

Preferably the apparatus is arranged to operate at a relatively low pressure, e.g. of the order of four pounds per square inch gauge. When the apparatus is to be pressurized by the provided pump 27 pressure air is introduced via the inlet valve 25 of the container 11, but when pressure air is provided by an engine compressor, then such air is introduced to the apparatus via an air inlet 41 provided on the liquid supply container 10. Excess air supplied by the compressor is permitted to escape via the air outlet 30 of the air container 11, through the air filter 32, and is recirculated from the outlet 42 of the air filter to the engine compressor. For this purpose the ends of flexible pipe-lines 43, 44 respectively connected to the air inlet 41 of the liquid supply container 10 and said outlet 42 of the air filter 32, are led into and terminate at a dual-port adapter 45 designed for connection with the engines compressor. Said main frame 12 of the apparatus carries a blanking-off plate 46 whereto said dual-port adapter 45 may be fitted and sealed off when not in use. It is to be noted that recirculated air passes through the air container 10, which functions to trap excess moisture carried by same, and through the said air filter 32 before being returned to the compressor. Holder brackets 50 are provided at each side of the main frame 12 arranged so as to permit of the flexible pipe-lines of the apparatus being coiled in out-of-the-way position when not in use.

The two containers 10, 11 may be of welded steel construction with their internal surfaces treated, as for example by tinning, to resist corrosion.

Preferably, the air filter 32 is suited to the removing of solid particles of sizes down to five microns.

Apparatus according to the invention provides effective, readily portable, means of supplying washing liquid under pressure for use in cleansing the blades of a gas turbine compressor Without the necessity for dismantling said compressor.

It will of course be seen that the apparatus may be employed for dispensing liquids under pressure other than for the cleansing of compressor blades.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for washing and cleansing compressor blades of a gas turbine engine comprising a main framework, ground wheels connected to said framework whereby it may be moved from place to place, a first container mounted in said frame for holding a supply of washing liquid, a second container for holding pressurized air and also for use as a settling tank for moisture, said two tanks being in intercommunication so as to equalize the air pressure therein, pump means connected to said tanks for pressurizing the same, a valve for detachably connecting said pump means with said second container, a flexible valve-controlled liquid delivery pipe, a dip-tube extending into said first container and connected to said liquid delivery pipe, liquid filter means interposed in said delivery pipe, said first container having an air inlet, said second container having an air outlet, flexible pipe-lines each attached to said inlet and outlet, a dual-port adapter piece connected to said pipe lines for connecting the same with the supply and return points of the compressor of the gas turbine engine and a blanking-off plate carried by said frame whereby said adapter piece may be fitted thereto to seal off said flexible pipe lines when not in use.

2. Apparatus for Washing and cleansing compressor blades of a gas turbine engine as claimed in claim 1, wherein an air filtering device is interposed in the pipe line adapted for connection with the return point of said compressor.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 663,732 12/1900 Coughlin 222-399 872,494 12/1907 Blackburn 222-399 X 912,261 2/1909 Perry 222-176 1,242,930 10/1917 Fields 222-176 1,783,689 12/1930 Angier 222-176 X 2,124,798 7/1938 Schuler 222-189 X 2,533,395 12/1950 Paine 222-189 X 2,572,311 10/1951 Burd. 2,603,462 7/1952 Brown et a1. 222-176 X 3,140,050 7/1964 Elmore 222-193 X RAPHAEL M. LUPO, Primary Examiner. 

1. APPARATUS FOR WASHING AND CLEANSING COMPRESSOR BLADES OF A GAS TURBINE ENGINE COMPRISING A MAIN FRAMEWORK, GROUND WHEELS CONNECTED TO SAID FRAMEWORK WHEREBY IT MAY BE MOVED FROM PLACE TO PLACE, A FIRST CONTAINER MOUNTED IN SAID FRAME FOR HOLDING A SUPPLY OF WASHING LIQUID, A SECOND CONTAINER FOR HOLDING PRESSURIZED AIR AND ALSO FOR USE AS A SETTLING TANK FOR MOISTURE, SAID TWO TANKS BEING IN INTERCOMMUNICATION SO AS TO EQUALIZE THE AIR PRESSURE THEREIN, PUMP MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID TANKS FOR PRESSURIZING THE SAME, A VALVE FOR DETACHABLY CONNECTING SAID PUMP MEANS WITH SAID SECOND CONTAINER, A FLEXIBLE VALVE-CONTROLLED LIQUID DELIVERY PIPE, A DIP-TUBE EXTENDING INTO SAID FIRST CONTAINER AND CONNECTED TO SAID LIQUID DELIVERY PIPE, LIQUID FILTER MEANS INTERPOSED IN SAID DELIVERY PIPE, SAID FIRST CONTAINER HAVING AN AIR INLET, SAID SECOND CONTAINER HAVING AN AIR OUTLET, FLEXIBLE PIPE-LINES EACH ATTACHED TO SAID INLET AND OUTLET, A DUAL-PORT ADAPTER PIECE CONNECTED TO SAID PIPE LINES FOR CONNECTING THE SAME WITH THE SUPPLY AND RETURN POINTS OF THE COMPRESSOR OF THE GAS TURBINE ENGINE AND A BLANKING-OFF PLATE CARRIER BY SAID FRAME WHEREBY SAID ADATPER PIECE MAY BE FITTED THERETO TO SEAL OFF SAID FLEXIBLE PIPE LINES WHEN NOT IN USE. 